Rules and Regulation News: page 9
- December 2025
UK Government publishes environmental improvement plan including consultation on domestic burning emissions
The UK Government published its environmental improvement plan in December 2025, including a consultation on cutting emissions from burning in homes in England, with the effect on wood burners not yet clear.
Hackney consolidated 27 SCAs into one borough-wide zone
Hackney combined its 27 separate smoke control areas into a single borough-wide zone from 1 December 2025, part of a wider pattern of English councils consolidating older designations.
Scottish Parliament approved the 2025 Regulations
The Scottish Parliament approved the remainder of the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2025 in December 2025, but the new-style EPC certificates they introduce will not now come into force until 30 April 2028.
Suppliers required to be able to offer Time of Use tariffs by 2025
Ofgem has said it is requiring energy suppliers to be able to offer Time of Use tariffs by 2025, a commitment set out in its September 2021 electric vehicle strategy.
Targets Framework for domestic meters concluded at end of 2025
The four-year Targets Framework that set energy suppliers annual domestic smart meter installation targets ended on 31 December 2025, with a 2030 completion obligation proposed to replace it.
Welsh Government publishes summary of responses and next steps
The Welsh Government has published its response to a consultation on permitted development rights, backing most air source heat pump proposals and putting off-street EV charging changes into a second phase.
- November 2025
Consultation on alternative clean heating solutions to be launched
The government has expanded the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to cover air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries, and will consult on alternative clean heating solutions including renewable liquid fuels.
NAPIT responds to Chancellor's Budget
NAPIT has criticised the Chancellor's Budget for mixed messages on electric vehicles and household bills, welcoming the electric car grant extension but noting a missed chance to cut the link between electricity and gas prices.
Autumn Budget announces ECO4 will end on 31 March 2026
The Autumn Budget confirmed that the Energy Company Obligation (ECO4) will close on 31 March 2026, while the Boiler Upgrade Scheme was left untouched despite speculation about cuts.
Chancellor delivers Autumn Budget 2025
The Chancellor's autumn budget of 26 November 2025 shifts £154 a year off average energy bills by funding the Renewables Obligation directly and closing the Energy Company Obligation in April 2026.
Chancellor delivers second UK Budget
The Chancellor's second Budget ends the Energy Company Obligation in April 2026, adds £1.5 billion to the Warm Homes Plan and shifts 75% of legacy Renewables Obligation costs off electricity bills.
Government Budget introduces new taxes on electric cars
The 26 November 2025 Budget set a pence-per-mile charge on electric cars from April 2028 and extended funding for the Electric Car Grant, as new car registrations fell.
ECIU comments on energy price cap change for January to March 2026
The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit says the typical dual fuel bill will rise by around 30p under the January to March 2026 price cap, a fall of £37 in real terms.
Ofgem decides to update price cap benchmark consumption to 2023 TDCVs
Ofgem has decided to update the price cap's benchmark consumption to the 2023 Typical Domestic Consumption Values from 1 January 2026, a change it says will raise the cap level by about £9 a year for a typical customer.
Ofgem sets energy price cap for 1 January to 31 March 2026
Ofgem has set the energy price cap for 1 January to 31 March 2026 at £1,758 a year for a typical dual fuel Direct Debit household, a rise of 28 pence a month.
Consultation on continuing the Warm Home Discount Scheme closed
The government has confirmed the Warm Home Discount will run for a further five years to 2030/31, after a consultation that closed on 20 November 2025 drew 93 responses.
Energy UK publishes response to DESNZ consultation on continuing the Warm Home Discount
Energy UK has told the government that the Warm Home Discount should run for five more years, grow to at least £1.5 billion and be paid for from taxation rather than energy bills.
Industry bodies warn UK will miss 2028 heat pump target by up to a decade and issue three-point action plan
Heating manufacturers, merchants and professional bodies have warned ministers that the UK will miss its 2028 target of 600,000 heat pump installations a year, possibly by a decade, and set out three proposed remedies.
Trust publishes WHD consultation response
The British Gas Energy Trust has published its response to the consultation on continuing the Warm Home Discount, backing the scheme but calling for a larger rebate and multi-year funding.
DESNZ consulted on Boiler Upgrade Scheme changes and published government response
The government has published its response to a consultation on the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, setting out changes that include new grants for air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries.
Government launches consultation on alternative heating technologies
The government opened a consultation on 18 November 2025 into alternative clean heating technologies including heat batteries and biomass, running until 10 February 2026.
Government response to Part 1 of the consultation published
The government has published its response to Part 1 of its Boiler Upgrade Scheme consultation, confirming £2,500 grants for air-to-air heat pumps and heat batteries among a set of eligibility changes.
Scottish Government statement on draft heat buildings legislation
The Scottish Government has paused its Heat in Buildings Bill for this parliamentary session, publishing a draft instead and offering grants of up to £9,000 for heat network connections.
Part L 2025 consultation closes
The Welsh Government's consultation on changes to Building Regulations Part L, covering energy efficiency in new and existing buildings, closed on 17 November 2025.
Analysis finds UK policies give residential gas a negative effective carbon price
Energy Systems Catapult analysis finds residential gas carries an effective carbon price of minus £67 per tonne of CO2e, while electricity sits at £74, both far below the £261 needed for Net Zero.
TÜV Rheinland (China) expanded its MCS certification scope
TÜV Rheinland (China) has widened its MCS product certification scope beyond solar PV to cover heat pumps, building-integrated solar PV, solar heating and solar mounting systems.
EHPA publishes updated map of European fossil fuel boiler bans
The European Heat Pump Association has updated its tracking of fossil fuel boiler bans across Europe, noting changes in Austria, Ireland and the UK since its January 2024 version.
Energy Systems Catapult publishes response to Ofgem lower-standing-charge tariff consultation
Energy Systems Catapult has backed Ofgem's plan to require suppliers to offer lower-standing-charge tariffs but says the proposal lacks a clear plan to manage risks of reduced competition and consumer harm.
Instaclad no longer meets the approved description
Ofgem has confirmed that the Instaclad external wall insulation system no longer meets its approved innovation measure description under ECO4, after its BBA certificate was withdrawn.
Nesta published a project update on a local clean heat planning tool
Nesta has published details of a prototype tool that groups neighbouring properties by the low-carbon heating technology deemed most suitable for them, starting in Plymouth.